ASC: Fragments Of Paradise

Fragments of Paradise (K.A.)

OSRIC adventure for PCs of levels 8th-10th

I am reviewing these in the order they were submitted. For my review criteria, please check out this post. All reviews will (probably) contain *SPOILERS*; you have been warned! Because these are short (two page) adventures, it is my intention to keep the reviews brief.

This is an OSRIC adventure; it makes reference to items (bleeding sword, robe of bones, greater cloak of displacement, etc.) that are not part of AD&D.

It is also not an "adventure site" but a full on adventure. Players do not "stumble onto" the place, but are sent there on a mission (multiple mission ideas are provided). The thing is simultaneously too big (the Dyson Logos map is of a city with dozens of buildings) and too small (only 7 keyed encounter locations...outside the 8-24 of the contest parameters). For these infractions, this is yet another entry I would simply disqualify.

A mid-high level adventure site...except that it's not an adventure site. Whatever. The author throws a perpetually regenerating evil reversed deva with laser eyes into the thing as the main antagonist. Because...high level, I guess?

Gygax was right the first time not to include angels in his game. Throwing devas and solars and such into it just wants to make DMs want to use them to fight PCs. Trashy.

Let's see, what else: 12 hill giants with a "shaman" (no spells given, though he wears a robe of bones). Five invisible banshees. A house shrouded in "permanent darkness and silence" with four black puddings in stasis for PCs to bump into. A giant white gemstone with a 200K value that doesn't matter because the PCs are supposed to destroy it that traps souls without saving throw and possesses PCs. 

Yeah. This isn't an adventure for levels 8th-10th...not even in OSRIC. Sorry.

The whole scenario culminates with the summoning of an astra deva who cleanses the whole thing in "a storm of divine fire."  Can't happen soon enough, in my opinion.

Yes, K.A. -- I'm a big jerk. I don't like this one. It's mythic and grandiose, but it's also style over substance. 8th-10th level doesn't call for "mythic and grandiose." Tomb of Horrors is just a crypt raid and that's for levels 10th-14th.  Back to the drawing board. Even if it wasn't a DQ, this would be * for me.